Tracking system for live game hunting

ABSTRACT

A tracking device selectively attached to trajectory device, comprising may include a housing configured to house at least one location tracking component, at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the housing and configured to attach to a trajectory device to carry the housing on the trajectory device, and a hook extending from the housing and configured to engage with a portion of an animal upon impact of the trajectory device with the animal, wherein upon engagement of the hook with the animal, the housing and the hook are configured to separate from the trajectory device and attach to the animal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/964,176 filed Jan. 22, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Disclosed herein is a tracking system for live game hunting.

BACKGROUND

Hunting of larger animals is a popular activity. Various bows and arrows are used in this past time. During a hunt, a user may penetrate an animal, but the arrow may pass through the animal, simply graze the animal, or otherwise fail to stay embedded in the animal. In this case, animals may be difficult to track, leading to frustration and waste.

SUMMARY

A tracking device selectively attached to trajectory device, comprising may include a housing configured to house at least one location tracking component, at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the housing and configured to attach to a trajectory device to carry the housing on the trajectory device, and a hook extending from the housing and configured to engage with a portion of an animal upon impact of the trajectory device with the animal, wherein upon engagement of the hook with the animal, the housing and the hook are configured to separate from the trajectory device and attach to the animal.

A tracking device selectively attached to a trajectory device may include a housing configured to house at least one location tracking component, an attachment mechanism fixed to the housing and configured to attach to an arrow to carry the housing on the arrow, and a hook extending from the housing and configured to engage with a portion of an animal upon impact of the arrow at the animal, wherein upon engagement of the hook with the animal, the housing and the hook are configured to separate from the trajectory device and attach to the animal.

A tracking device selectively attached to trajectory device may include a housing configured to house at least one location tracking component to detect a geographic location of the housing, at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the housing and configured to attach to a trajectory device to selectively carry the housing on the trajectory device, and a hook extending colinearly with the housing from a distal end of the housing relative to the trajectory of the trajectory device to engage with a portion of an animal upon impact of the trajectory device at an animal, wherein upon engagement of the hook with the animal, the housing and the hook are configured to detach from the trajectory device and attach to the animal, thereby allowing the geographical location of the animal to be tracked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, other features of the various embodiments will become more apparent and will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a tracking system for live game hunting;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an arrow of the tracking system with a tracking device;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side exploded view of the arrow and tracking device;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the arrow and the tracking device;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the arrow and tracking device without the arrow head;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another example tracking device arranged on an arrow shaft;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the arrow shaft without the tracking device of FIG. 6 arranged thereon; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tracking device and arrow of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Described herein is a tracking system for hunting wherein an after-market tracking device may be arranged on an arrow. The tracking device may include a tracking chip configured to transmit geographical location. The tracking chip may be removable from the arrow and may become lodged on or within an animal upon the animal being struck by the arrow. The tracking chip, once embedded in the animal, may transmit the animal's geographic location. The location may be transmitted to a mobile device application and aid in tracking the animal. The chip may be a micro global positioning chip (GPS) or BLUETOOTH chip in a housing that may be attached to any arrow for easy and universal installation behind the broadhead. A protruding barb or hook may latch to the animal and detach the chip from the arrow as the arrow passes through the animal. Thus, regardless of weather, amount of blood, etc., the tracking device may allow a hunter to easily locate and recover its kill.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example tracking system 100 for live game hunting. The system 100 may include a hunting device 105, such as a bow, including but not limited to a crossbow, compound bow, recurve bow, traditional bow, flatbow, longbow, barebow, etc. The hunting device 105 may include a projectile or trajectory device, such as an arrow (labeled as 120 in FIGS. 2-4.) The hunting device 105 may be operated by a user 115. A mobile device 110 may be associated with the user 115 and may include a mobile tracking application. The mobile device 110 may be any of various types of portable computing device, such as cellular phones, tablet computers, smart watches, laptop computers, portable music players, or other devices. The mobile device 110 may also be an application specific device that is shipped and compatible with a tracking device 130 (illustrated in FIG. 2).

During use, such as during a hunt, the arrow 120 may be configured to penetrate or come into contact with a live animal 123. Such animals may include large game animals such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, antelope, bear, etc. Small animal species may also be hunted using a bow and arrow. While the examples herein disclose an arrow, other forms of ammunition may be contemplated, such as hooks for fishing, among others.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, a tracking device 130 may be arranged on the arrow 120. FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an arrow of the tracking system 100 with a tracking device 130. FIG. 3 illustrates a side exploded view of the arrow 120 and tracking device 130, and FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the arrow 120 and the tracking device 130. FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the arrow 120 and tracking device 130 without the arrow head.

The arrow 120 may be any type of arrow including but not limited to carbon, wood, aluminum, fiberglass, etc. Various other spines may also be used, as well as various fletchings, balances, etc. Further, while the examples herein may illustrate a broadhead arrow point (see FIGS. 2-5), other arrow point types may be used, including but not limited to field, judo, blunt, fishing, etc.

The tracking device 130 may be arranged on a shaft 140 just below the arrowhead 135. The tracking device 130 may include a hook mechanism 145. The hook mechanism 145 may be a hook, barb, or other component configured to attach, or grip the animal. The hook mechanism 145 may be fixed to a tracking chip 150 arranged within a housing 160. The chip 150 may be any form of chip configured to transmit the geographic location of the same. The chip 150 may include a wireless transceiver and communicate via various wireless networks 125 (as illustrated in FIG. 1). For example, the chip 150 may include GNSS, including global positioning system (GPS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), or short message service (SMS) capabilities to wirelessly transmit data regarding the chip's location. The chip 150 may also be configured with BLUETOOTH low energy (BLE) capabilities, as well as near-field communication capabilities such as active (or inactive) radio frequency identification (RFID).

During use, once the arrow 120 has been deployed from the hunting device 105, and upon coming into contact with the animal 123, the hook mechanism 145 may snag, or attach to the animal 123. The chip 150 may be fixed to the hook, but be removable from the housing 160 such that, upon engaging with the animal 123, the hook mechanism 145 and chip may detach from the housing 160 and the arrow 120. In the case that the arrow 120 penetrates the animal 123 and does not become lodged within the animal, the chip 150 and hook mechanism 145 may remain with the animal 123.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the network 125 may be any wireless network configured to facilitate communications between the chip 150 and the mobile device 110. For example, the wireless network 25 may be a cellular network, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), personal hotspot, wireless wide area network (WWAN) including GSM, GPRS, GPS, etc., among others.

Once the chip 150 and hook mechanism 145 are attached to the animal 123, the chip 150 may transmit its location via the wireless network 125. The mobile application on the mobile device 110 may then report to the location to the user 115. Thus, while the arrow 120 may have exited or simply grazed the animal and is not lodged within the animal, the chip 150 may selectively adhere to the animal in order to allow efficient and simple tracking of the animal. The mobile application may allow the user to tack the animal and may provide for a map-like display. The mobile application may be configured to receive user interactions to provide for a customizable user experience.

Returning to FIGS. 2-5, the tracking device 130 may be arranged on the arrow shaft 140. The tracking device 130 may include a retaining mechanism 165 configured to receive at least a portion of the arrowhead 135 (as best shown in FIG. 3.). The retaining mechanism 165 may be a loop-like washer configured to receive the threaded end of the arrowhead 135. The retaining mechanism 165 may be fixed to the housing 160, both of which may remain fixed to the arrow 120 after the hook mechanism 145 and chip 150 are removed. That is, once the hook mechanism 145 attaches to the animal 123, the chip 150 and hook 145 may separate from the arrow 120, while the retaining mechanism 165 and housing 160 remain on the arrow 120.

The tracking device 130 may be an aftermarket device configured to be added to an arrow 120. Once the chip 150 and hook mechanism have been used, the chip 150 and hook mechanism 145 may be discarded. However, in other examples, the chip 150 and hook mechanism 145 may be recovered, cleaned, and reattached to the housing 160 to be reused.

The chip 150 may include a power supply such as a battery. The battery, although not shown, may interface with the hook mechanism 145 and may be triggered upon detachment of the hook mechanism 145 from the housing 160. That is, a force or pull on the hook mechanism 145 may activate the battery, thus activating the chip 150. This may allow for conservation of power until the chip 150 tracking function is desired (e.g., once it attaches to an animal.) By activating the battery and chip 150 only during use or upon attachment to the animal 123, the stored energy of the battery is conserved.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another example tracking device 230 arranged on an arrow shaft 140. The tracking device 230 may include a housing 260 configured to maintain the chip 150 (not shown in FIG. 6) and a power source for the chip such as the battery, among other components. The housing 260 may have an aerodynamical shape so as to not intrude upon the trajectory of the arrow when in flight. The housing 260 may be formed of a plastic or polymer material and may hermetically sealed to be waterproof. The housing 260 may be formed of other materials or a combination of materials.

The tracking device 230 may include at least one first attachment mechanism 265 arranged at an underside of the housing. The attachment mechanism 265 may be a loop-like washer as described above with respect to FIGS. 2-5. Additionally or alternatively, the attachment mechanism 265 may be a snap-ring, where the underside opposite of the tracking device 230 defines an opening. During installation, in one example, the tracking device 230 may be snapped onto the shaft 140 by the opening receiving the shaft, expanding around the shaft, and snapping around the shaft 140 to retain the tracking device 230 on the shaft 140. The opening may also allow for the attachment mechanism 265 to be removed from the shaft by pulling the housing from the shaft 140 and allowing the shaft to slip through the opening.

The tracking device 230 may include a second attachment mechanism 270 configured to attach the tracking device 230 to the shaft 140. The second attachment mechanism 270 may be a washer or ring configured to slide over the shaft 140. Similar to the first attachment mechanism 265, the second attachment mechanism 270 may be arranged at the underside of the housing 260. The second attachment mechanism 270 may be separate and spaced from the first attachment mechanism 265. While two attachment mechanisms 265, 270 are illustrated and described herein, more or less may be included in the tracking device 230.

Unlike the first attachment mechanism 265, the second attachment mechanism 270 may be integrated with the tracking device 230 but may be selectively removeable therefrom. Upon impact, the tracking device 230 is configured to separate from the second attachment mechanism 270, with the second attachment mechanism 270 remaining on the arrow 120 while the tracking device 230 is imbedded into the animal. This is discussed in further detail below.

In the examples described with respect to FIGS. 2-5, the chip 150 and hook 145 are configured to separate from the arrow 120, while the retaining mechanism 165 and housing remain on the arrow 120. In the examples described with respect to FIGS. 6-8, the tracking device 230, including the housing, may separate from the arrow, leaving only the second attachment mechanism 270 on the shaft 140 after impact with the animal. The tracking device 230 may be intended to be disposable, for a single use. In another example, however, the tracking device 230 may be reusable and reattached to the arrow 120 for subsequent use.

The tracking device 230 may include a hook mechanism 245. The hook mechanism 245 may extend from a distal end of the tracking device 230 relative to the trajectory of the arrow 120. When installed on the arrow 120, the hook portion extends toward the arrow 120. The hook mechanism 245 may extend colinearly with the housing. As explained above, the hook mechanism 245 may be a hook, barb, or other component configured to attach, or grip the animal. During use, once the arrow 120 has been deployed from the hunting device 105, and upon coming into contact with the animal 123, the hook mechanism 245 may snag, or attach to the animal 123. Upon engaging with the animal 123, the hook mechanism 245 may cause the tracking device 230 to detach from the shaft 140 of the arrow 120. In the case that the arrow 120 penetrates the animal 123 and does not become lodged within the animal, the tracking device 230 may remain with the animal 123.

Although one hook 245 is illustrated and described herein, more than one hook may extend from the housing 260. In some examples, multiple hooks may extend at various locations about the housing to further aid in engagement with the animal. Various sizes and shapes of hooks 245 may be used.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the arrow shaft 140 without the tracking device 230 arranged thereon illustrating the second attachment mechanism 270. The second attachment mechanism 270 includes a projection 272 configured to engage with a portion of the inside of the housing 260 of the tracking device 230. The projection 272 may include a support portion 280 extending from a ring portion 282. The support portion 280 may extend colinearly with the shaft 140 when installed on the shaft 140 and extend perpendicular to the ring portion 282. The projection 272 may include a clip 284 creating a hook-like mechanism extending over or above the support portion 280. The projection 272 may form a hook or a recess 288 configured to receive at least a portion of the housing 260 or a portion of an opposite end of the hook 245. The projection 272 may aid in engaging the housing 260 and the hook 245 with the second attachment mechanism 270 to maintain the tracking device 230 on the arrow 120.

The support portion 280 of the projection 272 may define one or more notches 286 on one or both sides of the support portion 280. The notch 286 may cause the width of the support portion 280 to decrease at the space between the notches 286. The thinning of the support portion 280 may create a lower tensile strength at the support portion 280. During use, when the arrow 120 comes into contact with an animal 123 and the hook 245 engages with the animal, the hook 245 may create an opposing force from the trajectory of the arrow 120. By snagging the animal, the hook 245 may pull the tracking device 230, creating force at the projection 272. This force may create tension at the support portion 280 of the second attachment mechanism 270, causing the support portion 280 to break at the thinned portion. Upon this breaking, the housing 260 of the tracking device 230 may be separated from the shaft 140 of the arrow 120, allowing the housing 260 to be lodged within the animal 123 while the arrow 120 extends through, and possibly out of, the animal 123.

In addition to notches, the support portion 280 may form a weaker, break away portion created by a lower tensile strength. This may be done by a ramp down of the material width, by having holes or openings in the support portion 280, etc. That is, the break away point or portion may be strong enough to withstand trajectory through the air, but not the impact with the animal.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tracking device and arrow of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 illustrates a recess 288 configured to receive an opposite end 292 of the hook 242 to maintain the housing 260 on the shaft 140 by engaging with the projection. When the hook 245 engages with an animal, the force created by the engagement may cause the support portion 280 to snap, or break, thus releasing the second attachment mechanism 270 from the housing 260 of the tracking device 230. The first attachment mechanism 265 may also be pulled off of the shaft 140 via the opening in the snap ring.

The tracking device 230 may be an after-market device including the second attachment mechanism 270 attached to the housing 260. Prior to use, a user may thread the shaft through the first and second attachment mechanisms 265, 270 to place the tracking device 230 on the shaft 140 prior to the arrowhead 135 being installed. Once the tracking device 230 is embedded in an animal, the second attachment mechanism 270 may remain on the shaft 140. The projection 272 may break off with the housing 260, leaving only the ring portion 282 and a portion of the support portion 280 on the shaft 140. The second attachment mechanism 270 may be removed by the user once the arrow is recovered and discarded. Additionally or alternatively, the second attachment mechanism 270 may be formed in such a way that it may be reused and reattached to a tracking device for subsequent use.

Accordingly, described herein is a tracking system for live game hunting that is easily configured for existing hunting devices, such as arrows for bow hunting. The tracking device may be placed on a user's existing arrow. Once deployed, the arrow may come into contact with the animal. Via the hook, a tracking chip may be lodged within the animal and transmit a wireless signal indicating the location of the animal to a user's mobile device. The mobile application on the user's device may allow for easy tracking of the animal regardless of the location of the arrow. The system may allow for simple, yet precise tracking of the animal in various weather conditions, any amount of daylight, and regardless of how or where the animal was hit. The low profile of the tracking device allows for unobstructed use during a hunt and does not require other devices other than the user's mobile device. The ability to easily track prey allows for less waste of natural resources, less frustration for hunters, and more efficient use of time.

The embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide for a plurality of circuits, electrical devices, and at least one controller. All references to the circuits, the at least one controller, and other electrical devices and the functionality provided by each, are not intended to be limited to encompassing only what is illustrated and described herein. While particular labels may be assigned to the various circuit(s), controller(s) and other electrical devices disclosed, such labels are not intended to limit the scope of operation for the various circuit(s), controller(s) and other electrical devices. Such circuit(s), controller(s) and other electrical devices may be combined with each other and/or separated in any manner based on the particular type of electrical implementation that is desired.

It is recognized that any controller as disclosed herein may include any number of microprocessors, integrated circuits, memory devices (e.g., FLASH, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or other suitable variants thereof) and software which co-act with one another to perform operation(s) disclosed herein. In addition, any controller as disclosed utilizes any one or more microprocessors to execute a computer-program that is embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that is programmed to perform any number of the functions as disclosed. Further, any controller as provided herein includes a housing and the various number of microprocessors, integrated circuits, and memory devices ((e.g., FLASH, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM)) positioned within the housing. The controller(s) as disclosed also include hardware-based inputs and outputs for receiving and transmitting data, respectively from and to other hardware-based devices as discussed herein.

With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc., described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc., have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tracking device selectively attached to trajectory device, comprising: a housing configured to house at least one location tracking component; at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the housing and configured to attach to a trajectory device to carry the housing on the trajectory device; and a hook extending from the housing and configured to engage with a portion of an animal upon impact of the trajectory device with the animal, wherein upon engagement of the hook with the animal, the housing and the hook are configured to separate from the trajectory device and attach to the animal.
 2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism includes a first attachment mechanism and a second attachment mechanism, each extending from the housing and spaced from one another.
 3. The tracking device of claim 2, wherein the second attachment mechanism is configured to detach from the housing upon impact of the animal and remain attached to the trajectory device.
 4. The tracking device of claim 3, wherein the second attachment mechanism includes a ring portion configured to receive the trajectory device.
 5. The tracking device of claim 4, wherein the second attachment mechanism includes a projection attached to the ring portion via a support portion, the projection configured to fix the housing to the second attachment mechanism.
 6. The tracking device of claim 5, wherein the support portion defines at least one notch creating a lower tensile strength portion of the support portion.
 7. The tracking device of claim 6, wherein the lower tensile strength portion is configured to break in response to the hook engaging the animal to release the housing portion from the trajectory device.
 8. The tracking device of claim 2, wherein the first attachment mechanism is a snap ring attached to the side of the housing and defining an opening at the side opposite the attachment side to snap-fit over the trajectory device.
 9. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the hook extends from a distal end of the housing relative to the trajectory of the trajectory device, the hook extending co-linearly with the housing.
 10. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the hook extends into the housing and wherein at least a portion of the at least one attachment mechanism extends into the housing, the at least one attachment mechanism configured to engage the portion of the hook within the housing.
 11. A tracking device selectively attached to a trajectory device, comprising: a housing configured to house at least one location tracking component; an attachment mechanism fixed to the housing and configured to attach to an arrow to carry the housing on the arrow; and a hook extending from the housing and configured to engage with a portion of an animal upon impact of the arrow at the animal, wherein upon engagement of the hook with the animal, the housing and the hook are configured to separate from the trajectory device and attach to the animal.
 12. The tracking device of claim 11, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a ring portion configured to receive the arrow and a projection attached to the ring portion via a support portion, the projection configured to extend into the housing.
 13. The tracking device of claim 12, wherein the support portion defines at least one break away portion.
 14. The tracking device of claim 13, wherein the break away portion is configured to break in response to the hook engaging the animal to release the housing portion from the arrow.
 15. The tracking device of claim 12, wherein the projection of the attachment mechanism defines at least one recess within the housing, at least a portion of the hook extends into the housing into the housing, and the recess is configured to receive the portion of the hook within the housing.
 16. The tracking device of claim 12, wherein the hook extends from a distal end of the housing relative to the trajectory of the arrow, the hook extending co-linearly with the housing.
 17. A tracking device selectively attached to trajectory device, comprising: a housing configured to house at least one location tracking component to detect a geographic location of the housing; at least one attachment mechanism fixed to the housing and configured to attach to a trajectory device to selectively carry the housing on the trajectory device; and a hook extending colinearly with the housing from a distal end of the housing relative to the trajectory of the trajectory device to engage with a portion of an animal upon impact of the trajectory device at an animal, wherein upon engagement of the hook with the animal, the housing and the hook are configured to detach from the trajectory device and attach to the animal, thereby allowing the geographical location of the animal to be tracked.
 18. The tracking device of claim 17, further comprising at least one power source arranged within the housing to provide power to the location tracking component.
 19. The tracking device of claim 17, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism is a ring configured to receive a shaft of the trajectory device.
 20. The tracking device of claim 17, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism includes a lower tensile strength portion configured to break in response to the impact of the trajectory device at the animal to release the housing from the trajectory device. 